Woodturners Cafe — Restaurant in Waikato

The professor and I were traveling back to Auckland and had heard that good food was served at this establishment. It was curiosity that made us stop. The cafe was busling when we arrived and there was a long wait at the counter to be served. The professor noticed the price tag of $4.80 for scones and thought that was a bit rich. A closer look at the price tags we noted the food was priced with a very healthy regard for margin. Maybe the price included a surcharge, it being a public holiday that day. Then came the announcement, there was a 30 minute wait for food from the kitchen. We opted for sandwiches out of the cabinet without any drinks as we had been waiting for a while. We were disappointed with the sandwiches because we were going to share. There was only one piece per pack. We're used to two pieces per pack. That is two slices of bread with filling cut in half and then packaged. They were lovely butties, fresh and delicious but for the cost. The discussion after lunch was about food cost and margin. We generously estimated the cost of product in the meal at $1.80 versus the price of $9.00 that we paid. We will be back but not on a public holiday. The food was excellent and we would like to appreciate the customer experience and cafe ambiance when not so busy. Hopefully portion control will be relaxed so we get better...

The food was hearty and wholesale if not a little overpriced. The atmosphere quirky and charming. The young cashier was bright and cheerful and very good at her job ... if only I could say the same for the barista and my simple request for coffee! ... when a simple request for a top up of milk to take the macchiato delivered to the table to the requested piccolo turned into a flat NO, I was stunned.

NO MILK. So again I instructed how I would like my piccolo, even offering instructions and offering to pay extra should I have been mis changed. Same again the 2nd time.

I got UP and went to the counter myself. The 2nd coffee was bitter and cold ... I am presuming I was simply given the same one back.

Politely but firmly, with credit card in hand, I was again refused ... and given instructions (according to the chart on the wall) ... WHY?

Who won on this exchange? As a seasoned traveller (and barista/business owner) I suggested the teen research/travel a little beyond her valley to engage in such pigheadedness ... then I asked for a refund.

All totally unnecessary 😒 ... you lost a sale and a happy customer ... and you refunded my $5 ... Which I spent in Paeroa on a perfect piccolo at $4.80 ... with the 20 cent...

I recently visited this charming café, and while there were a few bumps in the experience, there was still so much to appreciate. First, the setting is truly a hidden gem. The café boasts a beautiful garden with lush greenery and serene seating areas that create a relaxing ambiance. It felt like an oasis in the middle on the way to our destination. Clever and unique decorations adorned both the indoor and outdoor spaces, adding a creative touch that made the atmosphere even more inviting.

However, while the environment was outstanding, the customer service didn’t quite match up. I found the staff to be a bit lacking in warmth and courtesy. Specifically, the waitress I encountered didn’t smile or respond to my multiple "thank yous," which felt somewhat off-putting. It’s a small thing, but a friendly demeanor can make all the difference in a dining experience.

Despite that, I still recommend this café for the incredible ambiance and the peaceful garden space, which more than make up for the less-than-ideal service. Hopefully, they’ll work on making the customer service as pleasant as the...